"neglect" dreadlocks process. What am I to expect?
Dreading Methods
Hello Everyone, I have been growing "neglect" (silly term) dreadlocks for nearly three months now. I wash with residue-free shampoo; baking soda and ACV three times a week. My hair is very thick and wavy - shoulder length. I find it odd that my hair is not even beginning to knot up after three months. I never touch my hair - apart from washing it to keep it clean. I let it air dry and leave it alone. I thought it would separate a little and resemble the start of dreadlocks by now, especially because it is thick, wavy and very curly underneath. but it just looks the same as when I used to brush it. I even received a compliment today about how nice it looked. Ha ha. It just looks like normal brushed hair. I have all the information at hand and what more advice can I follow but that of leaving my hair alone and keeping it clean? Has anyone had the same experience?I had dreadlocks for seven years. They were close to my waist when I cut them. I put them in myself in 1998 using beeswax and backcombing. Needless to say everything is true: lint, dirt, fluff, grease, and eventually mold causing the dreading experience to be truly "dreadful". But in 1998 I had no internet and the only information I could get about dreadlocks was via word of mouth and everyone said the only way was to use beeswax, which I got for free from a local beekeeper. It wasn't until I met some natural dreadlocked folk who simply let them be - very lovely dreadlocks, too - that I realized wax was rather disgusting to rub through one's hair. I put up with it though because the dreads were very mature and wonderful on the outside but on the inside - filthy. After I cut them I had a look inside and the wax was still in there. After seven years!Anyway, I haven't had dreadlocks for six years so I thought I would let my hair be and see what happens. But nothing is happening so far and I'm not sure exactly how long it takes for dreadlocks to form or if they form one at a time or all at the same time. I guess it varies for each hair type. But I'd like to hear from anyone who has grown "neglect" dreadlocks and what it was like in the first few months. As I have mentioned there has been NO change in my hair without brushing for nearly three months. It looks like nice clean wavy hair. I will not resort to backcombing or any other method. It either dreadlocks alone or not at all...Many blessings.
updated by @adam-forest: 01/13/15 08:45:31PM
